Highlight your technical skills

As a front end developer, your technical skills are the foundation of your work. Make sure to showcase your proficiency in:

• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Front end frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js
• Responsive design and cross-browser compatibility
• Version control systems like Git

Don't just list these skills; provide specific examples of how you've used them in your work. For instance:

• Developed a responsive e-commerce website using React and Redux, resulting in a 20% increase in mobile conversions
• Collaborated with designers to create a new UI library using Angular, which was adopted across the company

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   Demonstrate your problem-solving abilities

Front end development often involves solving complex problems and finding creative solutions. Highlight instances where you:

• Optimized website performance and reduced load times
• Debugged and fixed challenging issues
• Implemented new features or functionality

For example, instead of simply stating that you "fixed bugs," provide more context:

• Identified and resolved a critical bug in the checkout process, preventing potential lost sales and improving user experience

This shows that you not only have the technical skills but also the ability to think critically and solve problems.

   Showcase your project experience

Hiring managers want to see that you can apply your skills to real-world projects. Include a section on your resume that highlights your most relevant and impressive projects. For each project, provide:

• A brief description of the project and its goals
• Your specific role and contributions
• The technologies and tools you used
• The results or impact of the project

If you have personal projects or open-source contributions, don't hesitate to include them as well. They demonstrate your passion and initiative.

   Tailor your resume to the job

One common mistake job seekers make is using the same generic resume for every application. Instead, tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for. Here's an example of a generic resume statement:

Front end developer with 5 years of experience creating websites.

Now, here's an example of a tailored resume statement:

Front end developer with 5 years of experience creating responsive e-commerce websites using React and Node.js. Proven track record of optimizing site performance and improving user experience.

The tailored version specifically mentions the type of websites the candidate has worked on, as well as the specific technologies and results relevant to the job. This shows the hiring manager that you're a strong fit for their particular needs.

   Quantify your impact

Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to quantify your impact and achievements. This helps hiring managers understand the scale and significance of your work. For example:

• Developed new features for a web application

This statement is vague and doesn't give a sense of the impact. Instead, try something like:

• Developed and launched 4 new features for a web application, resulting in a 15% increase in user engagement and a 10% increase in revenue

The specific numbers provide context and demonstrate the real-world results of your work.

   Highlight your soft skills

While technical skills are crucial for a front end developer, don't overlook the importance of soft skills. Hiring managers value candidates who can:

• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Adapt to changing priorities and requirements
• Take initiative and ownership of their work

Look for opportunities to showcase these skills in your resume. For example:

• Collaborated with designers, back-end developers, and product managers to launch a new mobile app on time and under budget
• Presented technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment

By highlighting your soft skills along with your technical expertise, you show that you're a well-rounded candidate who can thrive in a professional environment.

  List relevant skills, then discuss them with metrics

As previously mentioned, front end developer skills often vary widely depending on the industry that the role is in or the technology stack that the company is using. It is important to carefully read the description to understand what kind of languages, frameworks, or libraries the company is looking for so you can showcase your abilities accordingly.

Once you’ve figured out which skills to highlight, it’s important to demonstrate that you know how to use them. Have you worked with React in the past to put together a functional, easily accessible website? What did it accomplish? Did you work closely with UI designers and analysts to bring their vision to life using Javascript? What was the result?

Think about the answers to these questions as you fill out your work experience section in your resume, and make sure to quantify the impact of your contribution.

  Describe your accomplishments, not your responsibilities

List out what you accomplished at your previous front end developer roles, and highlight the impact of your contribution. Recruiters want to hire people who have the skills and technical/creative knowhow to make a tangible difference in their position.

For example, maybe you worked with UX/UI design teams to implement data-driven user insights that doubled conversion rates. Make sure to discuss how you contributed to increasing those conversion rates, and how you collaborated closely with the team.

Or, maybe you constructed an app in less than a week with a team of other iOS developers, make sure to include what languages you used and to quantify the impact of your contribution with numeric metrics.

  Include a Projects Section

This can prove especially useful for entry-level students or career changers. If you don’t have work experience, you can also include a section for Projects, where you discuss freelance or independent projects/apps you built.

For example, perhaps you’ve built yourself a personal site, or even an app for a friend’s business idea. Projects you’ve crafted for an imaginary client can also be used -- just make sure to outline the assumed context or customer that you were coding/designing for.

If you have an online profile like Github, you can include a link to showcase more of your work. If you do decide to link your Github, make sure it’s pretty active and contains projects you’re proud of! Nothing’s worse to a recruiter than a totally empty or inactive Github profile, especially if they’re looking for passionate front-end developers